Prairies elevator building boom continues

An elevator building boom on the Prairies shows no signs of slowing as new facilities continue to come on line and existing ones are upgraded to accommodate faster unload times, more efficient rail car loading and longer grain trains, The Western Producer reports.

In central Saskatchewan, Cargill and Richardson are expanding existing facilities at Davidson.

Cargill officials were in the community in June to mark the completion of their upgrade, which included the addition of four concrete storage bins, a 120-foot scale with 85 tonne capacity, a 50,000-bushel per hour conveyor, a 160 ft. leg and an expanded 100-car rail spot.

Davidson, Saskatchewan

Richardson is also upgrading its Pioneer facility in Davidson, with additional steel storage and an expanded rail car spot.Jeff Wildeman, Cargill’s regional manager for Saskatchewan, said the expansion will increase storage capacity by more than 10,000 tonnes to roughly 25,000.

He said nearly 25 percent of Cargill Canada’s annual investment takes place in Saskatchewan. The company has invested roughly $300 million in the province over the past five years with major construction or expansion projects in Clavet and Davidson.